A viral video showing a family cooking on the side of a national highway has triggered a fresh debate on how public spaces are used in India. The clip, widely shared on social media, shows the family setting up a portable stove and gas cylinder to prepare a full meal while sitting comfortably on what appears to be a highway rest area. No vehicles are seen passing in the frame and the family appears relaxed, treating the open road as an informal picnic spot.

In the video, the man tells his wife that many viewers are questioning why they choose to cook on the road instead of stopping at a food stall or carrying meals from home. The woman acknowledges that cooking on the road “may not be the right thing,” but insists they are not obstructing traffic. She clarifies that they have set up their

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